Musical instrument stand



Jan. 24, 1967 J. A. ROCHON 3,299,765

MUS ICAL IN STRUMENT STAND Filed June 24, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR JOHN A. ROCHON ATTORNEY Jan. 24, 1967 J. A. ROCHON MUSICAL INSTRUMENTSTAND I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 24, 1965 FIG. 2

INVENTOR JOHN A. ROCHON FIG. 4

ATTORNEY Jan. 24, 1967 J. A. ROCHON MUSICAL INSTRUMENT STAND 5Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 24, 1965 FIG INVENTOR.

JOHN A. ROCHON BY I 777 d 704% ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,299,765MUSICAL INSTRUMENT STAND John A. Rochon, 9221 S. Kilnatrich Ave.,Oaklawn, Ill. 60453 Filed June 24, 1965, Ser. No. 466,741 9 Claims. (Cl.84-422) The present invention relates to a musical instrument stand andmore particularly to a high-hat, sock pedal or the like on which a pairof cymbals are mounted.

In the band instrument field, an instrument stand referred to as ahigh-hat supports two cymbals, one stationary and the other movable toand from the stationary cymbal, operated by a pedal placed on the floornear the drummer. In the operation of the cymbals with a high-hat, thestand often creeps or otherwise moves from the desired position so thatthe drummer is constantly required to readjust the position of the standto hold it in place while it is being played. Further, the high-hats aredesigned to operate various size cymbals, and in the conventionalhigh-hats the movable cymbal is returned to its original position by aspring when the pressure on the pedal is released by the drummers foot.The amount of spring force required to properly operate the returnmovement varies with the size and weight of the movable cymbal;consequently, it is desirable to vary the tension or compression on thereturn spring to obtain optimum performance for the cymbals. It istherefore one of the principal objects of the present invention toprovide a relatively simple but reliable mechanism for anchoring thehigh-hat to the floor so that it will not creep or otherwise moveaccidentally while the cymbals mounted thereon are being played.

Another object of the invention is to provide an anchoring device for aninstrument stand which gives lateral support on both sides of the pedaland thereby prevents rotation of the stand as well as forward creep, andwhich can be effectively adjusted to properly anchor the standregardless of the unevenness of the floor or other supporting surface onwhich the stand is placed.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a foldable high-hatstand having a plurality of anchor devices which can easily be adjustedindependently from one another and which will remain in proper adjustedposition until they are intentionally released for folding or moving thestand.

A further object is to provide a high-hat with a means for adjusting thetension or compression of the spring return, which is completelyenclosed in the shaft or body of the stand with the exception of aneasily reached and manipulated means for making the adjustment, andwhich can be effectively and readily adjusted without disturbing theremaining adjustment of the stand.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stand of the aforesaidtype which is sturdy and neat in appearance and has stability while itis being used, and which can readily be folded into a compact form forconvenient carrying and storage.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a stand embodying the presentinvention, showing the high-hat without the conventional cymbalssupported and operated thereby;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged elevational view of a portion of the operatingmechanism of the present high-hat;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the operating mechanism shown inFIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal cross sectional view of the operating mechanismshown in FIGURE 2, the section being taken on line 4-4 of the latterfigure;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional 3,299,765 PatentedJan. 24, 1967 view of the operating mechanism, the section being takenon line 5-5 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is an elevational view of a portion of the anchor mechanismforming a part of the present high-hat;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional view of the springadjustment mechanism, the section being taken on line 7-7 of FIGURE 2;and

FIGURE 8 is an exploded elevational and partial cross sectional view ofthe spring adjustment mechanism shown in Figure 7.

Referring more specifically to the drawings and to FIG- URE 1 inparticular, numeral 10 designates generally the present high-hat, havingcenter shaft 12 constructed of a lower section 14 and an upper section16, telescopically arranged with respect to lower section 14, and heldin adjusted position by a thumb screw 18 threadedly received in andextending through a collar 20 at the upper end of lower section 14.Mounted on the upper end of the upper section is a collar 22 forreceiving a lower stationary cymbal. The upper movable cymbal is mountedon fixture 24 which is supported and operated by a shaft 26 extendingdownwardly throughout the entire length of sections 16 and 14 of shaft12. The details for adjusting the telescopic section 16 and themechanism for holding the stationary and movable cymbals at 22 and 24are not important to the present invention, and for the purpose of thepresent disclosure, these parts will be considered conventional and willnot be described further herein.

The operating mechanism 30 consists of a rectangular frame 32 having twoside members 34 and 36 and upper and lower cross members 38 and 49secured rigidly at the upper and lower ends of side members 34 and 36. Alower end of center shaft 12 is supported on the frame by an upwardlyextending hollow boss formed rigidly with cross member 38. The frame 32is rigidly secured to a base 50 which in turn is connected to three legs52, 54 and 56, the three legs being pivoted on respective lugs 58secured to base 50 and being foldable into a compact arrangement alongwith the remainder of the structure. An adjustment nut 66 is mounted inthe bottom of base 50 and releasably retains the legs in their extendedposition, as illustrated in FIGURE 1. The details and construction ofthe leg adjustment and holding mechanism will not be described in detailherein since the particular details are not considered essential to thepresent invention.

Two laterally spaced anchor means 70 and 72, consisting of verticalrods, are mounted in frame 32 and extend through holes in the upper andlower cross members 38 and 40, and are adjustable axially and verticallyin the frame to permit the points 74 and 76 to firmly engage the flooror other supporting means. The two shafts are retained in adjustedposition by screws 78 and 80 threadedly received in the opposite ends ofcross member 38. The upper ends of the two rods 70 and 72 are providedwith hand-grips 82 and 84, respectively, to assist in gripping theshafts when an adjustment is being made after the thumb screws 78 and 80have been released. The two shafts extend downwardly through holes in abar to which collars 92 and 94 are secured, and are movable verticallytherethrough. The bar is secured to an operating pedal by a bar 102rigidly secured to bar 90 and extending to the heel 1434 of the pedal,thus holding the pedal in proper position with respect to base Mountedin operating mechanism 30 and in the lower end of section 14 of centershaft 12 is a spring adjustment mechanism for varying the force requiredto operate the movable cymbal. This mechanism consists of a coil springmounted around shaft 26 and abutting at its upper end across pin 112seated in shaft 26. The lower end of the shaft abuts against a movablesleeve 114 3 adapted to move vertically on shaft 26 and increase ordecrease the compression on spring 119. The sleeve is moved by a screw116 having a threaded portion 118 threadedly received in lower end 126of sleeve 114, the screw being rotated in either direction by ahand-wheel 122 for raising or lowering the sleeve and thereby increasingor decreasing the compression on the spring, the wheel being heldagainst axial movement in cross member 38 by a set screw 12d extendinginto an annu lar groove 126 in the screw. The sleeve is prevented fromrotating by a pin 128 extending through the side wall of section 14- andseating in a longitudinal groove 130 in sleeve 114. In this arrangementshaft 26 extends through and reciprocates in spring lltl, sleeve 114 andscrew 116 as it is operated by pedal we, the shaft being moved downly byoperation of the pedal and returned to its original position by spring110 reacting between pin 112 and sleeve 114. The movable cymbal isoperated through shaft 26 by a linkage lat) connected to a collar 142threadedly secured to the lower end of shaft 26. The upper end of thelinkage is pivotally connected to pins 144 and 145 and the lower end ofthe linkage is connected to the forward end of pedal 1% by a rivet 146.

In the operation of the present high-hat, the stand is anchored to thefloor by merely loosening thumb screws 78 and 8t) and pushing rods 7%and 72 downwardly until the points 74 and 76 engage and slightlypenetrate the floor or other supporting structure. The thumb screws arethen tightened, holding the shafts in adjusted position. The laterallyspaced relationship of the two shafts to pedal 1% not only prevents theforward creeping of the stand, but also rotation of the stand to eitherside. The adjustment mechanism incorporated in the operating mechanismis adjusted to the optimum operating condition by rotation of wheel 122,thus increasing or decreasing the compression on spring lit and therebyincreasing or decreasing the force required to operate the movablecymbal mounted on the upper end of shaft 26. The adjustment willnormally be made only when the cymbal size has been changed.

While only one embodiment of the present instrument stand has beendescribed in detail herein, various changes and modifications may bemade to satisfy requirements without departing from the scope of theinvention.

I claim:

1. A high-hat stand having a stationary and a movable cymbol thereon,comprising a base, a plurality of legs pivotally connected to said base,a frame mounted on said base and having two vertically spaced sidemembers and an upper and lower cross member connected to the upper andlower ends of said vertical members, a hollow vertical shaft connectedat its lower end to said upper cross member of said frame, areciprocating shaft in said hollow shaft for operating said movablecymbal, two rods having pointed lower ends mounted vertically in saidframe in spaced relation to one another and movable therein, thumbscrews for securing said rods in various adjusted positions, a barhaving spaced holes therein for receiving the lower ends of said rods, abar extending rearwardly from said first bar, a pedal mounted on thefree end of said second bar, a compression spring disposed in saidhollow shaft around said reciproating shaft, a means forming an abutmentfor the upper end of said spring, a sleeve forming an abutment for thelower end of said spring, a screw extending upwardly through said uppercross member and being threadedly received in said sleeve for adjustingsaid sleeve upwardly and downwardly in said hollow shaft to vary thecompression of said spring, and a linkage connecting said reciprocatingshaft with said pedal.

2. A high-hat stand having a stationary and a movable cymbal thereon,comprising a base, a plurality of legs connected to said base, a framemounted on said base, a hollow vertical shaft connected at its lower endto said frame, a reciprocating shaft in said hollow shaft for operatingsaid movable cymbal, two rods having pointed lower ends mountedvertically in said frame in spaced relation to one another and movabletherein, thumb screws for securing said rods in various adjustedpositions, a bar having spaced holes therein for receiving the lowerends of said rods, a bar extending rearwardly from said first bar, apedal mounted on the free end of said second bar, a compression springdisposed in said hollow shaft around said reciprocating shaft, a meansforming an abutment for the upper end of said spring, a sleeve formingan abutment for the lower end of said spring, a screw extending upwardlythrough said frame and being threadedly received in said sleeve foradjusting said sleeve upwardly and downwardly in said hollow shaft tovary the compression of said spring, and a linkage connecting saidreciprocating shaft with said pedal.

3. A high-hat stand having a stationary and a movable cymbal thereon,comprising a base, a plurality of legs connected to said base, a framemounted on said base, a hollow vertical shaft connected at its lower endto said frame, a reciprocating shaft in said hollow shaft for operatingsaid movable cymbal, two rods having pointed lower ends mountedvertically in said frame in spaced relation to one another and movabletherein, means securing said rods in various adjusted positions, a pedalmounted on the free end of said second bar, a compression springdisposed in said hollow shaft around said reciprocating shaft, a meansforming an abutment for the upper end of said spring, a sleeve formingan abutment for the lower end of said spring, a screw extending upwardlythrough said frame and being threadedly received in said sleeve foradjusting said sleeve upwardly and downwardly in said hollow shaft tovary the compression of said spring, and a linkage connecting saidreciprocating shaft with said pedal.

4. A musical instrument stand having a stationary and a movable cymbalthereon, comprising a base, a frame mounted on said base, a hollowvertical shaft connected at its lower end to said frame, a reciprocatingshaft in said hollow shaft for operating said movable cymbal, two rodsmounted vertically in said frame in spaced relation to one another andmovable therein, means securing said rods in various adjusted positions,a pedal mounted on the free end of said second bar, a spring disposed insaid hollow shaft around said reciprocating shaft, a means forming anabutment for the upper end of said spring, a sleeve forming an abutmentfor the lower end of said spring, a screw threadedly received in saidsleeve for adjusting said sleeve upwardly and downwardly in said hollowshaft to vary the compression of said spring.

5. A musical instrument stand having a stationary and a movable cymbalthereon, comprising a base, a plurality of legs pivotally connected tosaid base, a frame mounted on said base and having two vertically spacedside members and an upper and lower cross member connected to the upperand lower ends of said vertical members, a hollow vertical shaftconnected at its lower end to said upper cross member of said frame, areciprocating shaft in said hollow shaft for operating said movablecymbal, two rods having pointed lower ends mounted vertically in saidframe in spaced relation to one another and movable therein, thumbscrews for securing said rods in various adjusted positions, a barhaving spaced holes therein for receiving the lower ends of said rods, abar extending rearwardly from said first bar, a pedal mounted on thefree end of said second bar, and a linkage connecting said reciprocatingshaft with said pedal.

6. A musical instrument stand having a stationary and a movable cymbalthereon, comprising a base, a plurality of legs connected to said base,a frame mounted on said base, a hollow vertical shaft connected at itslower end to said frame, a reciprocating shaft in said hollow shaft foroperating said movable cymbal, a pedal for moving said reciprocatingshaft, two rods having pointed lower ends rnounted vertically in saidframe in spaced relation to one another and movable therein, meanssecuring said rods in various adjusted positions, and a linkageconnecting said reciprocating shaft with said pedal.

7. In a musical instrument stand having a stationary and a movablecymbal thereon: a base, a frame mounted on said base, two anchor rodsmounted vertically in said frame in spaced relation to one another andmovable therein, and means securing said rods in various adjustedvertical positions.

8. In a musical instrument stand having a stationary and a movablecymbal thereon: a base, a frame mounted on said base and having twovertically spaced side members and an upper and lower cross memberconnected to the upper and lower ends of said vertical members, a hollowvertical shaft connected at its lower end to said upper cross member ofsaid frame, two rods having pointed lower ends mounted vertically insaid frame in spaced relation to one another and movable therein, andthumb screws in said frame for securing said rods in various adjustedpositions.

9. In a musical instrument stand having a stationary and a movablecymbal thereon: a base, a frame mounted on said base and having twovertically spaced side members and an upper and lower cross memberconnected to the upper and lower ends of said vertical members, a hollowvertical shaft connected at its lower end to said frame, a reciprocatingshaft in said hollow shaft, a compression spring disposed in said hollowshaft around said reciprocating shaft, a means on said reciprocatingshaft forming an abutment for the upper end of said spring, a sleevearound said reciprocating shaft forming an abutment for the lower end ofsaid spring, and a screw extending upwardly through said upper crossmember and being threadedly received in said sleeve for adjusting saidsleeve upwardly and downwardly in said hollow shaft to vary thecompression of said spring.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,147,661 9/1964Padera 84422 RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner.

C. M. OVERBEY, Assistant Examiner.

1. A HIGH-HAT STAND HAVING A STATIONARY AND A MOVABLE CYMBOL THEREON,COMPRISING A BASE, A PLURALITY OF LEGS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID BASE,A FRAME MOUNTED ON SAID BASE AND HAVING TWO VERTICALLY SPACED SIDEMEMBERS AND AN UPPER AND LOWER CROSS MEMBER CONNECTED TO THE UPPER ANDLOWER ENDS OF SAID VERTICAL MEMBERS, A HOLLOW VERTICAL SHAFT CONNECTEDAT ITS LOWER END TO SAID UPPER CROSS MEMBER OF SAID FRAME, ARECIPROCATING SHAFT IN SAID HOLLOW SHAFT FOR OPERATING SAID MOVABLECYMBAL, TWO RODS HAVING POINTED LOWER ENDS MOUNTED VERTICALLY IN SAIDFRAME IN SPACED RELATION TO ONE ANOTHER AND MOVABLE THEREIN, THUMBSCREWS FOR SECURING SAID RODS IN VARIOUS ADJUSTED POSITIONS, A BARHAVING SPACED HOLES THEREIN FOR RECEIVING THE LOWER ENDS OF SAID RODS, ABAR EXTENDING REARWARDLY FROM SAID FIRST BAR, A PEDAL MOUNTED ON THEFREE END OF SAID SECOND BAR, A COMPRESSION SPRING DISPOSED IN SAIDHOLLOW SHAFT AROUND SAID RECIPROCATING SHAFT, A MEANS FORMING ANABUTMENT FOR THE UPPER END OF SAID SPRING, A SLEEVE FORMING AN ABUTMENTFOR THE LOWER END OF SAID SPRING, A SCREW EXTENDING UPWARDLY THROUGHSAID UPPER